Sal Picinich, ‘Cake Boss’ baker, dies at 63

Sal Picinich, a baker on the TLC reality series “Cake Boss,” has passed away in New Jersey at the age of 63 after a battle with cancer, reports the AP.

Picinich had worked at Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken for 45 years, which is the bakery where the series is recorded. Picinich had been there longer than anyone else. He started there in 1964 with Buddy Valastro Sr. The bakery’s rep says Buddy Valastro Jr., “The Cake Boss,” saw Picinich as a second father.

Sal stopped appearing on “Cake Boss” when he began battling cancer in 2009, but he did return in 2010 to accept the Employee of the Century award on the bakery’s 100th anniversary. He is survived by a wife and two sons.